Telephone-call recorder.



H. K. SANDELL.

TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED sBPT.z4,19o9.

Patented-Deo. 27, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHBBT l.

' H. K. SANDELL. TELEPHONE CALL RECORDER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.24,1909.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1H IIIIIIINHHHH fl N H. K. SANDELL. TELEPHONE GALL RECORDER.

APPLIOATIONKFILBD SBPT.24,1909.

Patented Deo. 27, 1910.

4 SHEETB-SHEET 3.

n y um@ H. K. SANDELL.

TELEPHONE GALL RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED snPT.z4,19o9.

9'79,569 Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

nrrn 'rar HENRY K. SANDELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 HERBERT S. MILLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE-CALL RECORDER.

Application filed September 24, 1909.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY K. SAN-DELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful lmprovemcnt in Telephone-Call Recorders, of which the toll owing is a specification.

My invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in telephone call recorders, and is fully described and explained in the speciica-tion and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front view of my improyed device, the front-portion of the case being broken away and the parts being shown in their normal position; Fig. 2, a similar side elevation; Fig. 3, Va top plan of the device with the case removed, the parts being shown in the same position; Fig. l, a horizontal section in the line l of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a view similar in general to Fig. l, showing the parts in the position they occupy when malring a call; Fig. G, a similar view showing the parts in the position they occupy immediately after receiving the answer of central to a call; Fig. 7, a side elevation in general similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in the position they occupy when the busy signal is received; Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the corresponding parts in the position which they occupy when the busy-signal is received, and Fig. 9, a view similar to Fig. el, showing the parts in the position they occupy when the busy-signal is received.

Referring to the drawings :-A is a counting-device of ordinary form provided with numeral wheels having the usual means of connection between them whereby the arithmetical carrying can be accomplished. The interior construction of this counting-device is not illustrated in the drawings, for the reason that such construction is well known, and devices of the character can be purchased complete on the market in a form thoroughly suited for their intended purpose in connection with my present invention. The units-wheel of the counting-device A has rigidly attached to it a ten-tooth ratchet-wheel, so that a movement of the ratchet-wheel of one tooth will cause the counting-device to move one number.

A sleeve B is journaled in line with the axis of a ratchet-wheel A1 and is capable of oscillation in the manner set forth. This sleeve B has an integral radially-projecting Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Serial No. 519,448.

arm B1 which carries a pawl B2 in engagement with the ratchet-wheel A1, a spring o, which connects pins on the pawl B2 and radial arm B1, serving to'hold the pawl normally in engagement with the ratchet-Wheel. The sleeve B carries at its rear an integral plate B3, which is roughly triangular in form, Vas seen in dotted lines in Figs. l, 5 and 6, andV in top-plan and section in Figs. 3 and 1l, the right-hand lower corner of this triangular plate being indicated in the drawings, for convenience, by the reference-letter b1, and the left-hand corner by the referenceletter b2. Pivotally secured to the righthand lower corner Zal, referred to, is a curved link C which runs downward in the manner illustrated in Figs. l, 5 and 6, its lower end being pivotally connected to the receiverhook or switch-hook of an ordinary telephone.

It will be obvious that from the construction so lar described, when the telephone-receiver is lifted from the switch-hook, the link C will be raised by means of the spring which forces up the switch-hook, this spring being a usual and necessary part of the telephone apparatus to which the meter is applied. This upward movement of the link C will oscillate the plate B3, sleeve B, and consequently the radial arm B1 from the position shown in Fig. 5, thus rotating the ratchet-wheel A1 and the units-wheel of the counting-device to the extent of one tooth of the ratchet wheel or one number of the unitswheel. When the receiver -hook is again depressed, it no means were provided to hold the ratchet-wheel in its advanced position, it would be turned back again to its original position, the spring engagement between the pawl and the ratchet-wheel being suliicient to cause that retrograde movement in the absence of some holding device for the ratchet-wheel.

D is a vertically-movable armature, normally spring-pressed upward, and mounted upon a horizontal pivot. This armature carries on its upper surface a dog` D1 having a toot-h l in the plane of the ratchet-wheel A1. The dog is pivoted to the armature, and Ais movable in a horizontal plane, as will be clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 9, where the dog is shown in two positions, and it is provided also with a forwardly-projecting linger d1, and a rearwardly projecting-cam surface cl2.

E is au electro-magnet which is placed in position beneath the armature D. One ter minal of the electro-magnet is connected one of the line-wires as shown in Fig. l, and the other is connected to movable spring F, having a cam-shaped portion jt adapted to be engaged by the end of the armature D. The upper end of the spring F lie' within the bend of a U-shaped terminal F1, which is connected to the opposite sid-e of a break in the same line-wire to which the terminal of the electro-magnet is connected, thus placing the electro-magnet and the breaking-device, composed' of the spring F and rtl-shaped metal piece Fl in series with each other and in series with one of the line-wires. The electro-magnet E is so arranged that with the normal line current, it will act only as a holding-magnet for its armature D, but will be unable to draw the same down by magnetic force alone. ln other words, when the armature is pushed down mechanically in the manner to be described, it will be held down by this magnet as long as current 1s going over the line, but the moment there is a break in the line-current, the armature will move upward under the influence of its spring, and will remain up in spite of any current which may flow through the magnet thereafter until again mechanically pressed down adjacent to the pole of the magnet.

A second armature G is provided which is pivoted upon a horizontal pivot and extends upward therefrom in a vertical direction, being capable of a limited back-and-torth oscillation. This armature carries a block G1 which projects over adjacent to the pole of the electro-magnet, and italso carries an adjustable weight G2 for a purpose to be described. The armature G is so arranged that when a heavy current, such as the ringing-current or the busy-signal current is sent over the line, itwill be attracted, but will be wholly unaffected by the ordinary line-current. Then the armature Gr is to be operated by the busy-signal current, which is of a pulsatory nature, the adjustable weight G2 is used to tune the armature to the speed ot pulsation of the current normally used upon the line selected. It will be noted by reference to Figs. 4 and 9. that when the armature G is attracted, it swings the dog` D1 upon its pivot. ytl is also to be noted the dog Dl is not spring-pressed in either direction but will remain wherever placed, and for the purpose ot' returning it to its normal position, which is shown in F a, after it has been pushed to the position shown in Fig. 9 by the armature G. a tooth H is carried by the same pivot. which carries the link C, this tooth extending to the left from pivot and resting upon a pin z, which is carried by the'corner b2 of the plate B3. The tip of this tooth is in such position that when the plate B3 rocks from the position shown and 6 to the position shown in l, the tooth will wipe along the came (Z2 ot the dog` D1, wedging said dog ck to its normal position.

The construction ot' tie parts and their manner of cooperation with each other having been generally set forth, a complete description of the operation of the device can now be given.

The parts occupy the position shown in Fig. l when the device is at rest. Then itis desired to make a call, the receiver is litted from the receiver or switch hook and the parts move under the iniiuence ot the switch-hook to the position shown in Fig. That is to say, the sleeve B is rocked, and the ratchet-wheel is turned one tooth. Simultaneously, one of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel at the lower portion of its periphery runs over the tooth (l on the dog Dl, thus depressing the armature D, which in its downward movement, contacts with the cam f on the spring F and swings the said spring from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 5. At the time when the position shown in Fig. 5 is reached and the circuit is again completed through the electro-magnet, the armature D will have reached the sphere of influence of the magnet E and will be held in the lower position magnetically, the tooth at the bottom of the periphery of the ratchet-wheel running past the corresponding tooth (Z on the dog l)1 so as to -permit the armature to rise when released from such magnetic attraction. Then the operato-r at central plugs into the subscribers jack, there is a momentary break in the line-current caused by the operation or' the plug upon the jack. Then this break occurs, the armature immediately rises to the position shown in Fig, G, throwing the tooth (Z into the. path of one ot' the lower teeth on the ratchet-wheel and preventing its retraction. The breaking-device consisting of the spring F and the Us shaped loop F1 is provided merely to accentuate the break thus produced by the cen* tral-operator. ln some cases, the break produced at central might` be so short that the inertia of the armature D would not permit it to get beyond the range of me etic activity of the magnet E by the tine the magnet was again energized at the c 1npletion of the insertion ot centrals pli` C', and the breaking-device serves in an obvious manner to accentuate the break thus produced. Upon the very slightest upward movement of the armature G, the spring' F begins to move from the position shown in -g toward the position shown in Fig. 6, and it can not reach its complete left-Land position until the armature has mc ed under the influence of its spring entii f beyond the eiipective magnetic lield ot the magnet. The operation so far described is that which takes place in over ninety per cent. of the l current is sent out, the parts will occupy the calls made, and it also includes all that is done when a call is answered.

It will be obvious that when the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 6; that is v I the position occupied after central has plugged in, a return of the switch-hook to its normal position will lcause the pawl B2 to move one tooth on the ratchet-wheel A1 thereby leaving the counter advanced one number. It will also be obvious that if the switch-liook were returned to its Anormal or lowered position from the posit-ioii shown in Fig. 5, the counting device would simply be turned back one tooth, the ratchet-wheel being free'to move without engagement with the tooth Z on the dog D1 which in that position is held down by the magnet. This is the operation when a call is answered. If thev bell rings, the switch-hook is raised, the parts moving in the manner already described to the position sho-wn in Fig. 5. There is, however, no opportunity lfor a break in the line, and when the receiver is placed back upon its hook, the parts will move back to their original position, the armature being held downward by the attraction of the magnet until the line-current is momentarily broken by the movement of the switch-hook at the eXtreme end of its operation. Thus, when answering a call, the counter, or indicator, will simply move forward one number and t-hen move backward one number.

After the parts reach the posit-ion shown in Fig. G, when the subseribers call has been answered by central, the parts are in a position where a call will inevitably be registered upon the return of the switchhook unless some further manipulation be performed. A certain percentage of the calls are ineffective, either because the called subscriber does notl answer, or because the called subscriber is busy. In the latter case, the operator sends out the busy-signal and in t-he former case, it would be necessary in the use of my apparatus to send out either a busy-signal or other current more powerful than the ordinary liiie-current such as the ringing current. In other words, it is essential in the use of this apparatus, that when there is an ineffective call which has been answered by central, that a more powerful current or a pulsatory current shall be thrown upon the line.

All switchboard installations are provided with means by which this current can be sent out, and in the great bulk of cases, such cui'- rents are sent out in ordinary practice today, so that the sending of such a current requires no additional equipment at central and only in a very small fraction of cases will it require any manipulation additional to that which is now commonly performed.

' It is to be understood that when this heavy position shown in Fig. 6. That is, the subscribers call will have been answered by central. rIhe heavy current or pulsatory current will move the parts to the positions shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9; that is to say the armature G will be attracted, its upper end contacting in the manner illustrated with the forwardly extending finger d1 upon the dog D1 swinging the same from the position shown in Fig. 4 lto the position shown in Fig. 9, thus moving the tooth el out of the plane of the ratchet-wlieel and permitting the retrograde rotation of the ratchet-wheel with the sleeve B by reason of the engagement therewith of the paw-l B2 upon the downward movement `of the switch-hook. Sinfiultaneously with the downward movement of the switch-hook, the finger I-I will wipe along the cam-face (Z2 of the dog D1 returning the same to its normal position.

From the foregoing statement of operation it will be seen that this device will automatically register the calls in a position visible to the subscriber by a combined inechaiiical and electrical action without employing any movement whatever in the great bulk of cases either on the part of thecentral-operator or of the subscribenwhich operation is not now performed by these individuals. Furthermore, it will be seen that the registering-device itself is exceedingly simple and compact; that it is economical, and that its use entails the installation of no apparatus at the central station and no substantial change in the wiring system. Its use, also, does not in any way burden the service, nor interfere with the usual and normal operation of the various parts of the system. i

I realize that considerableV variation is possible in the details of construction of my improved device, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not intend therefore to limit myself to the specific form herein shown and described.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isy 1. The combination with a telephone line of a telephone call register, register-advancing means, and means whereby the breaking of the line-current shall render said registeradvancing means effective.

2. rIhe combination with a telephone line of a telephone call register, register-advancingV means operated by the movement of a part of the telephone which is necessarily moved in making a call, and means whereby the breaking of the line-curi'eiit shall render the register-advancing means effective.

The combination with a telephone line of a telephone call register, switch-hook operated register-advancing means, and means operated by the continuous passage of the normal line-current for rendering said register-advancing means ineffective, and arranged, when influenced by the changes in line-current, produced by the plugging in ofthe central operator to render said register-advancing means etiective.

4. The Combination with a telephone line of a telephone call register, switch-hook operated register-advancing means, means operated by the continuous passage of the normal line current ior rendering said register-advancing means ineffective, and arranged, When influenced by the changes in line-current produced by the plugging in of the central operator, to render said register-advancing means eitective.

5. The combination with a telephone line of a telephone call register', switch-hook operated means for advancing the register' and normally operating to move the same back, and means operated by the changes in the line-current produced by the plugging in of the operator for detaining the register.

6. rEhe combination With a telephone line of a telephone call register, switch-hook operated means for advancing the register and normally operating to lmove the same bacl-, means operated by the changes in the line current caused by the plugging in of the operator for detaining the register. and means operated by a heavier than normal current for rendering said detaining-device ineiifective.

7. The combination ivith telephone line and a telephone call register, ot' an advancing pawl operated by the subscriber, and arranged normally to move forward and retract the register and c .staining paivl controlled by the operator and arranged to hold the register in advanced position.

8. The combination With telephone line and a telephone call register, of a registeradvancing paivl connected to the switchhook to be oscillatcd thereby, said paivl being arranged to move forward and retract the register', a detaining paWl and means under the control of the operator for actuating the detaining paivl.

9. The combination With telephone line and a telephone call register, of a switchhook operated register-advancing paivl. a register-detaining pawl, and a holding magnet normally operating to hold the detaining paivl in inetiiective position, and to release the same under the control ot the operator.

l0. The combination rvith telephone line and a telephone call register. ot' a svvitchhook operated register-advancing paivl, a register-detaining pawl, and a holding magnet normally operating to hold the detaining paivl in ineffective position and to release the same under the control of the operator and electro-magnetic means tor elevating said detaining pawl When released into an .operative position.

11. rThe combination With telephone line and a telephone call register provided With a ratchet, of an advancing paivl connected With the switch-hook, a holding magnet, an armature ot the said holding-magnet carrying a detaining paivl positioned to be held out of the path ot the ratchet When held by said magnet and to re'e'nter the path thereot when released by said magnet.

12. The combination With telephone line and a telephone call register provided ivith a ratchet, a switch-hook operated advancingpaivl, a` holding-magnet, an armature for said magnet, a detaining paWl movable upon said armature, and arranged When said armature attracted by said holding magnet to be out ot the path of said ratchet and when said armature is released to be in the path ot said ratchet, and a second armature adapted to move said pavv'l on said tirstnamed armature to throiv the saine ivhen released out of the path of said ratchet.

13. The combination ivith telephone line and a telephone call register provided With a ratchet, ot' an advancing pavl connected .vith the switch-hook, a holding magnet, an armature of the said holding-magnet. carrying a detaining' patvl positioned to be held out of the path ot' the ratchet When held by said magnet and to reenter the path thereof when released by said magnet, and a breakintensitying device in series of said magnets and actuated by its armature.

14. The combination with telephone line and a telephone call register provided With a ratchet, a switch-hook operated advancingpavvl, a holding-magnet, an armature for said magnet, a detaining pavvl movable upon said armature, and arranged When said armature is attracted by said holding magnet to be out of the path of said ratchet and When said armature is released to be in the path ot said ratchet, a second armature adapted to move said paivl on said first-named armature to throw the samevvhen released out ot the path of said ratchet, and a break-intensifying device in series of said magnets and actuated by its armature.

15. In combination, telephone line and a telephone call register adapted normally to be advanced at the beginning of the use ot a telephone, and to be retracted at the close of such use, a register detaining-pavl and means for imparting to said paivl movements in tivo planes, one ot said movements alone rendering the paWl operative upon the register, and the two together rendering it inoperative.

16. The combination with telephone line and a telephone call register provided ivith a ratchet and arranged normally to be advanced at the beginning' of a period ot use ot a telephone and to be retracted at the end of a period of use, a detaining pavvl arranged to be moved successively in tivo planes under the control of the operator, the irst movement advancing it into the path of the register ratchet, and the second moving it out of said plane.

17. In a device of the Class described, the combination Wit-h a telephone line of an electro-magnet controlled by line-conditions7 an armature and a telephone call register Whose operation is etfeeted by the position of said 1o armature7 and an adjustable Weight upon tomber, 1909, in the presence of tivo Wt- 15 nesses.

I-IENRY K. SANDELL. In presence ofM RALPH SCHAEFER, JOHN WILSON. 

